Comparison of practices

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources

• Use of water resources
• Use of land resources
• Environmental protection

Country: Kyrgyzstan

Country: Turkmenistan

Province: Ahal Region

Other settlement: Yerbent

Transboundary river

The site (nearly 842,000 hectares; population of 8,000 people) is located in the Central Kara Kum Desert. The relief is represented by the combination of “barkhans” (sand dunes) of various forms and “takyr” (dry-type playa) depressions. The majority of the area is covered by desert pastures.

Start date: 01.04.2012

End date: 31.10.2016

Start date: 01.01.2009

End date: 31.12.2010

Imperfections of the water management mechanism in the Isfara small transboundary river basin

As soon as people began to lead a settled life, they shifted away from the traditional way of livestock grazing. The land became subject to strenuous exploitation, especially near settlements and watering sites.  Saxaul thickets were cut down for heating and cooking purposes.  The thickets were unable to restore over time due to overgrazing. Frequent movement of sand dunes and severe sandstorms threaten not only dwellings and social infrastructure, but also degrade soil and destroy the limited number of available water wells. Degraded pastures fail to yield enough livestock forage. The shortage of watering sites leads to consolidation of large numbers of animals around existing wells.  Structural changes in livestock production (more goats and cattle instead of camels; more unprotected pastures around settlements instead of distant pastures) lead to vegetation cover degradation, in particular, around settlements and watering sites.

The principle of stakeholder engagement in decision-making associated with water management of small transboundary river;

IWRM planning technique

Technology for combatting desertification and droughts by proper management of wells and watering sites (construction and repair of wells, building mechanical protection from reed mats and Saxaul saplings)

The river originates in Kyrgyzstan in Ak-Suu Glacier on the northern slope of the Turkestan Ridge 3,193 m above sea level.  The Ak-Suu ruins are located close to the river source.  Near the settlement of Karavshin, the river is called the same name.  Crossing the national border, the river merges with the Kshemysh River (Kshemyshsai) and, further on, the river receives the name of Isfara.

 Actions:

Establishment of stakeholder groups, i.e. Small Basin Councils (SBC) representing local authorities, NGOs, water users and local communities.  SBC secretariats independently hold internal semi-annual meetings.  Thus, the SBCs serve as platforms to exchange opinions and information as well as take joint decisions associated with the enhancement of the overall situation in the river basin.

Results:

Creation of national Small Basin Councils (SBC) on the Isfara River allowed a platform for exchanging opinions and information as well as for drawing joint decisions to improve the overall situation in the Isfara River Basin, including the development of the IWRM basin plan for the target basin.

Actions:

8 new wells built and 6 existing wells repaired, and mechanical protection (reed mats and Saxaul saplings) set up on the territory of 27 hectares.  Water wells also underwent small-scale repair and construction to expand the area of pasturable land and prevent localized degradation.

Results:

After the restoration of wells, desert pastures became subject to even and rational use; installation of mechanical protection allowed to stop the approaching sand dunes around settlements.

Lessons learnt:

Introduction of IWRM principles is the pre-requisite of stable and fair water supply irrespective of a given water user’s location.

Recommendations:

Currently, when local stakeholders are represented in SBCs and are engaged in joint water management, it is necessary to hold thematic seminars to ensure sustainability of SBC operations in the future.  In the long term, it might be possible to establish a joint body to manage the whole river basin.

Lessons learnt:

The capacity of watering sites was increased by way of improving the existing infrastructure and, where possible, building new wells infrastructure.  The newly drilled wells significantly aid local population in maintaining their livestock and households.

Recommendations:

It is necessary to test traditional drought-resistant grain crops.

Foreign tools (transfer of foreign experience)

• Traditional tools transferred from generation to generation that proved their efficiency in modern conditions;
• Domestic tools (outcomes of research by domestic R&D organizations)

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

1. Cost of implementation: High

2. Approximate cost of investment per 1 ha:

3. O&M costs: High

4. Expert support: Not needed

Development and implementation of basin plans constitute principal elements of integrated water resources management.  Multi-agency coordination mechanism via basin councils or coordination groups is an important advantage of IWRM.  This approach allows streamlined coordination and synergy of actions on all levels of management hierarchy.

Project title: Stakeholder partnership in joint policy-making: assistance to transboundary cooperation in small watersheds of Central Asia.

Project duration: Apr 2012-Oct 2016

Project goal and objectives: introduction of the integrated water resources management (IWRM) practice in three transboundary watersheds and its scaling-up in Central Asia.

Project beneficiaries: communities of the Isfara small transboundary river basin, specialists of water and environmental agencies, farmers.

Project implementer: USAID/CAREC.

Project title: Local-level capacity building and investment for sustainable management of land resources.

Project duration: 2009-2010.

Project goal and objectives: combating desertification and droughts.

Project beneficiaries: farmers and representatives of local executive bodies in several settlements.

Project implementer: Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan and German Technical Cooperation Agency (GIZ).

carecnet.org

http://www.turkmenistan.ru/?page_id=3&lang_id=ru&elem_id=17207&type=event&layout=print&sort=date_desc 

SIC ICWC

SIC ICWC